Transsexuals cut from consultation process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Monday, September 20, 2010 -- EDMONTON

TRANSSEXUALS CUT FROM CONSULTATION PROCESS

The Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA) is concerned that calls to increase public consultation regarding the development, amendment or repeal of strategic government policies, statutes, or regulations relating to the health system will serve to prevent access to health care for marginalized populations within Alberta. The government's recently released report, _Putting People First: Recommendations for an Alberta Health Act_ notes that province-wide consultation included over "1,300 participants" and the benefit of over "85 written submissions from stakeholders."

TESA notes that despite patients diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder being the sole identifiable group to have 100 per cent of its funding cut in the 2008 provincial budget, the invitation-only provincial consultation sessions by the Minister's Advisory Committee on Health (MACH) did not include representatives of this population.

"It's ironic that a report emphasizing accountability and consultation as core values would be created by a committee unwilling either to consult or be accountable to those most deeply affected by health care changes," said Mercedes Allen, a board member with TESA. "The Trans Equality Society of Alberta requested the opportunity to make a presentation to the Minister's Advisory Committee on Health. However, they chose to rebuff our request with the assertion that trans health issues were out of scope from their mandate."

On October 26, 2009, members of TESA and other transgender community supporters delivered letters to the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta requesting that the proposed Minister’s Advisory Committee on Health (MACH) be allowed to review the cut of health care funding for Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) made in April 2008.

"TESA remains firm in the position that any health care cuts under consideration need to be made with due care and attention. Unfortunately, the experience of the trans-identified community at large in Alberta has failed to demonstrate a willingness to exercise the care and consideration all Albertans should be able to expect from their government," Allen said.

The Alberta government delisted Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) in spring 2008 at a savings of less than one million dollars per year out of a budget well over 14 billion dollars, or less than 1/14,000th of annual provincial healthcare expenditures.

"Albertans should be concerned that the province is considering creating an Act that purports to seek evidence-based decision-making yet demonstrates an unwillingness to rely on the expertise and evidence afforded by medical professionals," Allen said. "As those with GID learned in 2008, best practices and standards of care can be easily dismissed by decision makers. Access to appropriate treatment should not be determined by the popularity of a specific condition or uninformed consensus that disregards easily-obtained medical expertise." Allen notes that such decisions could impact a variety of diagnoses and populations. "Who's to say which identifiable condition will next be considered unpopular enough to delist health services?"

The Trans Equality Society of Alberta was formed in 2009 in response to several issues that the transgender community faces, including the GRS funding cut.